a look the 2018-2019 Xavier men’s basketball roster after a week of follow

Xavier Musketeers head coach Travis Steele directs his group during the first practice of the season at the Cintas core in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018.picture: Sam Greene, The Enquirer

The school basketball calendar kicked off this week and Xavier college’s men’s basketball crew started its large East convention ordinary-season title defense with a week of follow, the ultimate of which changed into begin for fans on Saturday to get the first glimpse of team 97 on the Cintas middle floor.

while the renowned preseason storyline across the Musketeers has situated around who’s no longer within the building, Xavier, unwilling to hand over any expectations, has been concentrated on turning the page and writing a brand new sage.

here’s a player-by-player look at the roster and what fanatics can are expecting when the ball lowers on the general season in early November.

The Musketeers return 5 gamers from ultimate season

Quentin Goodin, junior – fans are already very universal with the 6-foot-4 point take https://www.indobetpoker.net/ care of from Campbellsville, Kentucky. Goodin, who become named a crew captain previous in the week with Tyrique Jones and Kyle Castlin, has began in fifty two consecutive video games.

Goodin’s athleticism and durability are his strengths. He’s an entire player, in a position to ranking interior and out of doors, and he’s a unique finisher on the basket. Goodin ranked third average in the massive East final season in assists per online game 4.9 and aid-to-turnover ratio 2.14. He averaged eight.7 aspects, but there might be much more looks on offense this season with out Trevon Bluiett, J.P. Macura and Kerem Kanter – Xavier’s three main scorers closing 12 months.

Goodin’s absolutely one of this team’s leaders and he has superstar knowledge. His velocity and athleticism will make him a tricky one-on-one matchup for many backcourts.

Tyrique Jones, junior – Jones slimmed down his 6-foot-9 frame through losing 20 kilos within the offseason. At 235 pounds, Jones stated he feels a good deal smoother together with his lateral movement and his capability to arise and down the flooring with out getting gassed.

Jones all started 19 video games last season and averaged 7.0 facets and four.5 rebounds. He’ll be a much bigger focal element of the offense this season and he’s an impressive physical presence, an enforcer around the rim.

His ability to stay on the ground and keep a aggressive tempo can be crucial because he’s considered one of handiest two genuine large guys on the roster.

Naji Marshall, sophomore – A unanimous selection to the big East All-Freshman crew final season, the trajectory on Marshall has simplest long gone up. The 6-foot-7 ahead averaged 7.7 points and 4.four rebounds in 35 games 18 starts closing season, but the starting of his 2018-2019 season already looks optimistic.

Marshall plays with the poise and confidence of somebody who expects to be remarkable. He has a dependancy of constructing difficult performs appear effortless.

His offensive game looks complicated to tackle. He can knock down 3-pointers or he can blow by using defenders off the dribble with his pace and athleticism and finish on the rim with each palms.

Marshall’s excessive-degree defense makes him one of the choicest two-way avid gamers on the roster. he is bought a knack for sniffing out passing lanes, which could lead on to loads of transition appears.

Paul Scruggs, sophomore – Scruggs, who performed in 34 games final season as a freshman and averaged nearly 17 minutes per video game, plays a tricky, tenacious brand of basketball.

Scruggs is coming off a season in which he averaged 4.9 facets per video game, a complete which should still upward thrust this season, however his most useful influence is on the shielding end.

Listed at 6-foot-three, Scruggs has the advantage of a a good deal better wingspan thanks to his giftedly long hands, which he makes use of to his talents in his smothering on-ball defense.

If his mentality can be contagious to his teammates, Xavier will unquestionably be a tough crew.

Elias Harden, sophomore – Harden played in 18 games remaining season and averaged just under six minutes per trip. He seems like he’s taken a pleasant sophomore step in the correct direction, including a greater vocal contribution in apply.

With the entire exits from final season, Harden could be a man who sees much more opportunities to rating. he’s shown a constant means to knock down shots in follow and he looks as invested to this team as any person on the roster.

If he can utilize his 6-foot-5 body and long arms to be a constant contributor defensively, there is no reason why Harden cannot be on the floor and produce.

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a lot of opportunities for learners

Kyle Castlin, senior – A graduate transfer from Columbia tuition, the 6-foot-4 protect is versatile. now not simplest has Castlin been named a captain, however he also appears like a official option at both ends of the flooring.

Castlin averaged 10.5 aspects and 3.eight rebounds last season. He performs with power and athleticism, and his basketball intelligence will in reality come in useful within the backcourt.

If he can knock down shots, he’ll be an invaluable addition to the Musketeers.

Zach Hankins, senior – a different graduate transfer, Hankins is a 6-foot-eleven forward who changed into the Division II national participant of the year final season and helped Ferris State purchase a national championship.

Hankins, of Charlevoix, Michigan, averaged 15.1 aspects, 9.9 rebounds and three.3 blocks closing season. Hankins looks poised to be a change maker defensively, but don’t rule him out on the offensive conclusion. he’s proven a in a position mid-range game and may conclude around the basket. Coming from Division II, Hankins is used to being double and triple-teamed. He’ll have more space to function and a lot more one-on-one alternatives to score.

Hankins’ patience is also a tremendous plus. He broke the large-man mile record over the summer with a time of 5 minutes, 19 seconds, and for his measurement, his capability to get up and down the ground without getting drained could be particularly positive to Xavier’s lineup.

Ryan Welage, senior – The third graduate switch on the Musketeers this season, Welage is 6-foot-10 and he can shoot it from all over.

At San Jose State last season, Welage, who’s from Greensburg, Indiana, shot 43 percent from 3-point range and averaged 18.1 aspects per game with a total of 60 three-pointers in 30 video games.

For Welage to reside on the ground and notice gigantic minutes he’ll should be complicated and carry his weight defensively, whatever thing the teaching workforce has been challenging him to do in practice.

With Welage on the floor, groups will must hold an in depth eye on him, as a way to supply his counterparts more room to operate.

Keonte Kennedy, freshman – Kennedy’s a further big take care of for the Musketeers. he’s 6-foot-5 and he matches correct in athletically.

His shot is already there and he has an outstanding believe for the video game.

Kennedy should still benefit drastically from attending to observe against guys Goodin and Scruggs.

His playing time will largely depend upon his capability to gain knowledge of the system, adapt and evolve as the season goes.

he’s been very receptive to guideline and criticism, and he’s an extra man who has a nice shot. As he gets extra acclimated to the device and charm of play, like Kennedy, he can be a legit alternative off the bench.

Myles Hanson, sophomore – If one component has been clear in follow to this point, it’s that Hanson is large adequate, talented satisfactory and athletic enough to be an impact player for Xavier. lovers gained’t see him this season, even though, as a result of he transferred from Columbia college and has to sit out three hundred and sixty five days.

At 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, Hanson appears and moves like a excessive-main player. His have an impact on this season should be in practice, giving his teammates a competitive appear, and it’s already clear this is a job he takes severely.

Leighton Schrand, junior, and Nick Vanderpohl, sophomore – Xavier’s tag-group duo of stroll-ons. Schrand, who was awarded a scholarship this season for his efforts, and Vanderpohl are partnered with Hanson to help give effort and energy in observe, so the Musketeers should be nothing if no longer organized.

Questions are presupposed to accompany a new season. How these questions are answered will generally verify even if or not a season is deemed a success.